New Delhi, Aug. 20 (ANI): Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari on Tuesday defended the effectiveness of the present Food Security Bill, and said that the opportunity to feed 81 crore Indians should not be sacrificed at the behest of party politics.
"I do think that there comes a time in the life of every nation, when people have to rise above party politics and really see the public welfare, which is intrinsic and is embodied in the heart of the Bill. So, I do hope that people would measure up and people would ensure that the food security of 81 crore Indians is not sacrificed at the anvil of party politics," Tewari said.
The Central Government, he said, had taken into consideration the suggestions made by various political parties in the standing committee and mitigated their concerns.
"This Bill has gone through a very, very comprehensive vetting process. It has been to a standing committee. After coming back from the standing committee, every concern articulated has been taken onboard. Official amendments, wherever essential, have been incorporated in the body of the Bill," Tewari said.
"The Food Security Bill is indeed a paradigm changer, in the entire food security force in this country. Never before, possibly in the history of democratic dispensation, has a measure ever been conceived which provides security of food to 81 crore people," Tewari added
Commenting on the possibility of getting a majority approval in the Parliament for the Food Security Bill in the Monsoon Session, Tewari said that the scope of what the scheme aims rises above party politics.
"Well, the question is not of reaching out to A or B. The question is of trying to ensure that the basic requirement, which is intrinsic to the very survival of a human being-that is, access to food and access to food at reasonable prices-gets fulfilled," Tewari said.
On Monday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and Food Minister KV Thomas reportedly met Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who stated that the Food Security Bill is "anti-farmer".
The UPA Government needs the support of Mulayam Singh Yadav's 22 Members of Parliament during the vote.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said it would suggest some amendments in the Food Security Bill before getting it passed in both houses.
The Left Front had earlier moved a resolution opposing the Bill, which has been supported by the AIADMK-led by J. Jayalalithaa.
K.V. Thomas had introduced National Food Security Bill in Lok Sabha earlier this month to replace the National Food Security Ordinance, 2013 which was promulgated on July 5.
The National Food Security Bill is a historic initiative for ensuring food and nutritional security to the people. It gives right to the people to receive adequate quantity of foodgrains at affordable prices. The Bill has special focus on nutritional support to poorest of the poor, women and children.
In case of non-supply of foodgrains now people will get Food Security Allowance. The bill provides for grievance redressal mechanism and penalty for non -compliance by a public servant or authority. (ANI)
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